Stitch Fix Review

Stitch Fix is your partner in personal style and was created to evolve with your taste, needs, and lifestyle. You are invited to share your size and dress fit online so that your personal stylist can hand-select five items of clothing, and send them to you. Stitch Fix encourages you to try on all the suggested items (you only pay for what you keep). If you do not like an item, simply send it back using the pre-paid postage, and you will not be charged. There is no on-going subscription fee; simply order a new box when the fancy for new clothing takes you.

Overall Rating

Items are hand selected by your personal stylist based on your evolving needs

There is no on-going subscription or cost; you can return what you don’t like

FedEx easy return shipping is provided, and boxes are sent priority

Cons

The sign-up questionnaire would benefit from more images

You will need to order a new box manually as this is not a true subscription service

The questionnaire makes gifting this box difficult if you do not know the specific details

What is Stitch Fix?

Stitch Fix is a men’s online styling service that connects men to a personal stylist. Your stylist will hand-select five items of clothing based on your evolving style and needs. When requesting a box, you will be asked to provide details such as you age, height, weight, body type, and skin tone using a virtual walkthrough to give your stylist a detailed overview of what you might like to wear. Stitch Fix uses some imagery to help you answer their questions, but most answers do not have an image, and this could be problematic if you do not know the numbers.

Once you have completed the questionnaire, which takes about 10 minutes, you can sign up for an account using social media authentication (or create an email and username). The interface is generally sufficient but did feel lagging at times. Once you are logged in, you will be directed to the member areas with your secure payment information. From here, things improve quickly, and you can expect free priority shipping, easy and free FedEx returns, and five items of quality, brand name clothing that suits your personal style to be delivered quickly.

What sets Stitch Fix apart from other subscription boxes is the attention to detail; the items you will receive will suit your tastes and will be in the correct sizing and fit. Items are selected for your exact measurements in mind, so the more accurate the information you provide, the more you can expect to receive. Unlike other subscription boxes, there is no on-going fee to use this service, and you will need to order a new box manually each month, or as needed. This makes Stitch Fix ideal for occasions when you want to dress for an event or occasion.

Your personal stylist reviews your personal style and needs to hand pick five items of clothing for you to try on at home

You only pay for what you decide to keep – try on five items of clothing, and return the items you do not like

Return the items you don’t like using the pre-paid FedEx envelope

Unboxing Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix shipped their box using priority mail and enclosed a pre-paid FedEx return label so that the transit service both ways is excellent. The fact that my box was sent priority and the return label was provided upfront filled me with confidence that I could send back whatever I didn’t like or decide to keep. Inside the box was a handwritten welcome note explaining why these items were selected for me, which is a flattering gesture.

I can acknowledge the effort put into the packaging. Each panel of the Stitch Fix box contained a design with an inspirational message. You can see the company wants to create a pleasant unboxing experience, and has thought about all the details. I also appreciated that my five items of clothing were wrapped in heavy brown paper. This made the delivery feel more like a gift, and made the opening more of a special experience than a simple mail order.

Overall, the aesthetics of the box are practical at best, which attributed to how well-presented the items were; this isn’t a fancy box by any means, but it is well executed. Bundled inside were all five items. This is definitely extra than what many competitor boxes offer and made me feel like I was getting the best value. I also noticed right away that the items were from recognizable and well-known brands, such as a 7 Diamonds Aether Wool Bomber jacket and Toms Mateo Textured Chukkas.

Each of the products were complimentary, and I didn’t receive any duplicates. In total, the bundle consisted of a flannel shirt, bomber jacket, chukka shoes, v-neck sweater, and a pair of slim-fit jeans. All of the items can be worn together, plus can blend into my existing closet. I also like that the items felt weighty; you get a lot for the value, and the unboxing more than makes up for the average sign up questionnaire experience!

The Review

Having grown more fond of subscription boxes, Stitch Fix showed promise the moment I viewed my menswear recommendations. Knowing it would offer me insight and expert suggestions, while lending the experience of a stylist had me sold on testing the service. Sending me five versatile items of brand name clothing earned it bonus points right out the gate.

The centerpiece of my first box (and the entire ensemble) was the 7 Diamonds Aether Wool Grey Bomber. Simply put, it’s a casual wear stunner. Its slim fit design toned up my profile and gave me a sharper look that complimented all my everyday outfits. The heathered fabric combined with a hint of wool gives the jacket the neat, low-key look that most hipsters swear by.

My stylist took the weather and my whereabouts into consideration when picking out my denim jeans, which I absolutely admired. The Alesbury Raleigh Slim Fit Jeans were super-relaxing to slip into, but aren’t as slim as advertised. That could be attributed to some recent weight loss, as well as the material, which is quite stretchable and comfortable on the waist. Though it lacks the slenderized presentation I want from a slim-fit pair. They run a bit long too at the bottom. So my advice would be to go a size or two down if ever selecting them.

Toms was never a brand that appealed to my fashion taste. Totally get the appeal of their footwear, but never found myself sipping the Kool-Aid. That is until now. To say I was incredibly impressed with its Mateo Textured Chukka shoes would be an understatement. Casual, comfortable, and stylish - they feel just as good as the signature slip-ons and come off just as easily. The fit is just right and I found the dark grey chroma perfect for the fall, serving as a testament to my stylist's fashion pedigree.

I’ve also never found flannel to be flattering, at least on me. But buttoning up the Original Penguin Luxor Houndstooth Brushed Flannel opened me up more to this shirt style. The intricate detailing of the collar, alongside the unique blue and white patterns captured my eye. Even more enticing was how the shirt delivered the slim fit I desired, accentuating my broad shoulders and chest. There’s enough breathing room near the wrists as well to highlight a nice casual watch or Miansai Anchor bracelet.

One can never own enough v-necks. And while my closet is stacked with a variety of them, I found the Hawker Rye 95/5 Cotton Cashmere V-Neck Sweater to be a sweet addition to my weekly fashion rotation. It's fit to size, plus the high-quality cotton provides enough warmth to wear indoors, while being light enough for layering and wearing outdoors. The dark gray shade plays nicely with the colors of the bomber and chukkas for dope fall fashion.

The items were excellent, and nearly half of the stuff I would want to wear. Shipping was on-point with my delivery finding its way to my door earlier than its ETA. All that attention to detail is what sets Stitch Fit apart, as many clothing subscription boxes for men fail to get these details. As such, I decided to keep all five of my items and was happy to see that all the pieces fit well and were of a high quality (no doubt in part due to the premium brand names). I would happily order from them again, confident in the knowledge that I will likely receive items I want to wear.

Cost

Stitch Fix offers “pay-to-play” service, which means that you only pay for what you keep. This is especially useful for clothing, which is largely down to personal taste. I feel like Stitch Fix works hard to choose great items because naturally, they want you to keep them; so, this is a win-win situation for both the company and the consumer. They sell their boxes, and I get great clothes that I enjoy wearing daily.

Regarding value, Stitch Fix has a lot to offer. You get five items total in each box, which is more than many other clothing boxes. You tell your stylist how much you would like to spend on each item of clothing, and they pick out elements that work to your budget. Stitch Fix adds a flat rate $20 styling fee per box if you decide to keep one item or more, which feels fair. If you do not opt to keep anything, you do not pay a dime; shipping is free both ways.

Note: if you decide to keep all five items you unlock 25% off your order total; this appears to be an on-going deal for all men.

How to Subscribe

To sign up, go to Stitch Fix and select either “Sign Up with Facebook” to launch a social media authentication, or enter your name and email address to start a manual account creation. I signed up for an account using my email, as the Facebook authentication did not seem to work for me.

Once you are inside, you will be prompted to fill in a questionnaire that takes note of your precise measurements and style preferences. You will need to fill this survey in for each box you wish to order to get the most accurate results. Unlike other subscription boxes, you will not be sent a box each month. You can order a box on an as needed basis.

If you do not love your items, simply return them using the pre-paid envelope from FedEx, and you will not be charged for your order. You are welcome to request a new box, even if you send all the items back to Stitch Fix.

Managing Your Subscription

To complete the sign-up process, you will be prompted to create an account membership. To manage these settings, just log into the Stitch Fix website using the credentials you chose at login. You will be able to update your credit card information and shipping details in the member’s area after login. As this is not a subscription service, you can only manage your existing order.

Is Stitch Fix Worth It? The Verdict: Yes

If you’re looking for style suggestions from a personalized stylist who will pair you to top shelf designer brand names, Stitch Fix offers a fantastic, no string attached service. Shop with the confidence of knowing that your stylist will pick out five items of clothing specific to your sizing and style requirements. If you don’t love an item, you can send it back free of charge and only pay for what you keep. Stitch Fix is ideal for the guy who wants to try on new brands, within his comfort zone and his pre-determined budget. Plus, your hard-earned money goes a long way in this box!

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